Category: Guides

Perhaps you’ve heard of Airbnb. Maybe it’s been positive, maybe it’s been controversial, and maybe you’ve used it yourself, but the odds are pretty high that you haven’t used it in Birmingham, AL.

Airbnb is available all over the world, but centers on places people visit. Who knew! Source: secretagent.com.au

The idea of renting a place to stay from someplace cheaper than a hotel (and probably more likely to let you use a kitchen) is attractive, and home sharing has been around probably since there were homes: the Greeks felt a duty to let travelers stay in their homes for the night, and some of us are familiar with the time-honored tradition of couch-surfing. The internet, and especially Craigslist, made all that easier. But today, home-sharing has gone commercial, interactive, and centralized, thanks to our new obsession with the “gig economy.”

The Master of Business Administration is a fan favorite when it comes to furthering one’s education. Lucky for Bham there are quite a few places to choose from, not only in our city but nearby as well. If you are looking to get your MBA, here’s a guide to help you find your perfect program.

“The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.” -Elie Wiesel

The art room at the LJCC

Here’s an activity I do with my art students: we walk through the hallways and class rooms as I point to different things like the carpets, the windows, the computers, and so on, and I ask them if what I am pointing to is art.

I didn’t make it to any marches today. It was Shabbat and some things in my life come first. This week’s Parsha, or Torah reading, was the first section of Exodus where we learn about Moses’ life which famously starts of with the decree from Pharaoh that all Jewish baby boys are to be thrown in the Nile. Yocheved, Moses’ mother, has some other ideas about what to do with her newborn boy (as well as some of the local Jewish midwives who decide to go against Pharaoh’s wishes).

The first half of my Very Southern Snow Day has been spent gutting fish and encasing a bottle of vodka in ice for after dinner drinks with my guests. Today seemed like the perfect opportunity to really get in touch with my Russian roots. I couldn’t change my menu too much for tonight, but what I really want to make was cornbread.

My cornbread, fresh from the oven

Cornbread might be one of my favorite baked goods, at least to make, mostly because it doesn’t require precision. Many of you, judging by what was completely gone from the shelves at Publix, will be indulging in some chili tonight, or similar hot liquid concoction. And while that will warm your body, you need to warm your heart and your soul. That’s where the cornbread comes in. And while I put mine in the oven, if you lose power tonight, this can be done on the stove if you have a heavy lid for your skillet. I also recommend some local cornmeal, found here.

I am not Southern. I don’t, despite my frequent use of it online, say ya’ll. I

Courtesy of recipegirl.com

don’t have any pearls, I don’t eat swine, and I’ve only ever been in a church to vote. When people ask if I’m from Birmingham, I say I went to high school in Birmingham and came back for college. I’m a proud Jersey Girl who talks funny and that has absolutely left me bitter.

But, I’ve discovered that Birmingham grows on you and makes you crave things you never knew existed.

Everyone from literary figures, iconic authors, more journalists than you can shake a stick at, editors, novelists, filmmakers, you name it, we’ve reported it, told it, written it, edited it, produced it, you get the picture.

Three days until 2017. How are you going to spend your NYE evening? Good thing you live in Birmingham, a place with a variety of events for all ages and all genres. Whether you want to dance, drink, eat or even karaoke the night away, here is a guide for your perfect New Year’s Eve in Bham.

These are just a few of the neighborhoods that make up Birmingham’s list of 99. That’s right! Birmingham has 99 distinct neighborhoods in its city limits. If you live in the city of Birmingham, you’re already a member of one.

What’s better than the fresh smell of pine needles during the Holiday season? If you plan to choose and cut your very own tree this Christmas season, here are some great places to find your perfect tree

We can attribute Birmingham’s growth to many different factors in today’s economy, but the two leading forces are the immense amount of startups and revitalization of our communities/districts within city limits.